Halpins of Co. Wicklow, Portarlington and Dublin City - Part 2

[kenneth cooke]

In reply to a message I posted 'Local Help Needed':
"The best possibility I can see is a townland named Ballymooney located about 4km east of Portlaoise (Maryborough) - see google map Ballymooney, Co. Laois"  Sent by ShaneW 147.
Ken

[J.M. Flannery]

My granddaughter Emily age 16 yrs came down yesterday to teach her grandma new tricks. I have never been on You Tube before, but she wanted to show me pictures of Wicklow. I am very glad she did and I would like to share this information with you all.

First Google ‘You Tube’ next click on ‘You Tube – Broadcast yourself ‘, then type in Wicklow Flooding 1965. This flooding, due to torrential rains happened on the Bank Holiday of August Monday when the regatta was in full swing. The amateur video (not very clear) was taken around The Bridge Tavern.

“Bridges of Wicklow”: There is a nice side picture of the Church of Ireland building, Church Hill, Wicklow. The church yard is situated to the left of this picture where the Halpin family graves are. It also shows the ‘Stone Bridge’ with Wire Ropes on one side of the bridge and The Bridge Tavern on the other side, where the flooding took place.

Also type in “Wicklow Pictures”. There are lots of other pictures around Co Wicklow well worth seeing. Hope you enjoy them.

Will send on more information on the Murrough and photo of some of Halpin property mentioned.
 
Julia

[BillW]

(1)  Who do we think the John Halpin, bookseller of Dublin, was, and what are the dates of recorded evidence about him?  When is he first recorded?  From these, can we deduce a likely age and time of birth for him?  Were there any other John Halpins about at the same time?

(2)  Current evidence suggests that Old Nick's son, William Henry Halpin, was employed at the Military Account Office and that he died in 1839 at his home in North Great Georges Street aged 79 (according with his being born 1760), a widower from Marianne for over 30 years, since 1808.  I wonder how early he started with the Military Account Office and what was this?  Was it another Halpin sinecure?

Bill

[kenneth cooke]

I have found two 'citations' from a website 'jstor' that seem relevant.
It quotes from "A Handlist of the Voters of Maryborough 1760" by H F Kearney, 1954. Irish Historical Studies, Select Documents from Drogheda MSS. Nat. Lib. Ireland.
Halpen Mark, Ballymony
Halpen Pagitt, in the Army
Both seem to be "under Mr. Westenraa's influence" which means I presume that they voted for him. I believe there were about 400 electors.
I assume that it was for the Corporation of M'borough, or maybe Governor of the County ? I wonder:
Who would be eligible to vote ?
Would there be a minimum age requirement (I think Pagett was about 20) ?
Ken

Moderator's Comment: Query about this source also posted on LAOIS Board:
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,449483.msg3115974.html#msg3115974

[kenneth cooke]

Bill,
Re J.H. Bookseller,
There's a resume of his life on a google book site, "A Dictionary of Members of the Dublin Book Trade 1550-1800" He's on Page 269. If you google in his name you get Page 1, but if you google in 'Paget Halpen, engraver, Dublin Book Trade', you get P. 270, and you can scroll back.
He mar. Jane Stamer in Aug.1786 and died in Nov. 1810, Will 1811.
Ken

[BillW]

That's excellent Ken.  The body of the information needs interpretation but the genealogy and dates are clear.  By the way, scrolling down, note that the engraver John Edmund Halpin is shown as the son of Patrick Halpin.  Also note the apposite comment on page 270 by the author, writing about Patrick Halpin, that "the Halpen family has proved particularly elusive".  Amen.

What do you think this shows about John's age?  He marries 1786, the year before William Henry Halpin marries, aged 27.  It is only at this time that he starts to register as a bookseller.  Presumably he himself served an apprenticeship but this is not mentioned in the book, I think.  Do you get the impression that John is a contemporary, age-wise, of William Henry, therefore born 1760, or do different sources suggest otherwise?

Do you think that there would have been a prosperous living as a bookseller?  I have the feeling that these professions of bookseller, engraver, etc. were somewhat dilettante-ish pursuits of those with comfortable backgrounds.  I don't mean that they were not serious about their professions, merely that there was something to fall back on.  If, as it seems, that Jane Stamer came from good family, it is likely that John would have had to measure up, status-wise.

I also note that Patrick had a job in the Stamp Office as William Henry had one in the Military Account Office.  These are establishment jobs.

Bill.

Bill,
Re J.H. Bookseller,
There's a resume of his life on a google book site, "A Dictionary of Members of the Dublin Book Trade 1550-1800" He's on Page 269. If you google in his name you get Page 1, but if you google in 'Paget Halpen, engraver, Dublin Book Trade', you get P. 270, and you can scroll back.
He mar. Jane Stamer in Aug.1786 and died in Nov. 1810, Will 1811.
Ken

[kenneth cooke]

Bill,
I wouldn't like to speculate too much. I have not followed him up, as he does not seem to be closely related to 'my' Halpens.
But it would be reasonable to assume that he was born about 1740-1750. In his class, it was usual to have a few years under your belt before marrying.
But one thing I should say is- I had previously assumed that he was the same John Halpen (of Woodville, QCo.) who married Mrs. Eliz. Swettenham, nee Toone (widow of the former Lord Mayor , Alderman S.) Refer old forum Nos 239/240. 
Now I see that John H. bookseller was survived by his widow, Jane.
Could be an error, or was it a different J.H.?
Ken

[BillW]

Addendum to Halbert, Eaton and Cotter families around Wicklow, from page 6.

EATON
Lease for 32 years and counterpart from Thomas Eaton of Dublin, gent., to John Mosely of Wicklow, gent., of a garden called Paradise 'inclosed with four Mudd Walls', and a house in front of the barracks of Wicklow with the waste house and garden adjoining, all being near the 'harling Lease' in Wicklow.  [TNA UK CR 132/74-75  6 Oct. 1707]

Lease for 11 years from Martha Eaton of Dublin, widow, guardian of her son Tanat, to Walter Byrn of Killoghter, co. Wicklow, gent.  [TNA UK  CR 132/36  24 Apr. 1742]

Lease for lives from Catherine Eaton of Dublin, spinster, to William Hodgins of Wicklow, malster.  [TNA UK CR 132/39  17 Nov. 1767]

Lease for 61 years from Katherine Eaton to John Burne of Moneystown, farmer, of part of Moneystown. Plan annexed.  [TNA UK CR 132/41  20 Dec. 1784]

Lease for 61 years from Katherine Eaton to Hugh Burne of Moneystown, farmer, of part of Moneystown. Plan annexed.  [TNA UK CR 132/42  24 Dec. 1784]

Lease for lives from Katherine Eaton of Wicklow, spinster, to Patrick Kavanagh of Exchequer St., Dublin, merchant.  2 plans annexed.  [TNA UK CR 132/52  1 Nov. 1785]

HALBERT
Of part of Lower Ballynebarney, 50a., Barony of Newcastle, Co. Wicklow. Recites original lease, 1 February 1759  from late Thomas Holmes of Yarmouth, I.W., Esq., to Frances Darragh, widow of William Darragh of Ballynebarney, farmer, for lives of John Darragh, Catherine Darragh and Anne Darragh her children at rent of £40 p.a. with a clause for inserting new lives at £3 8s. 3d. each. Further recites possession of the lease by (1), and falling in of all the lives. Present renewal in names of (2), Thomas Halbert, Gent., his elder brother and Hester Halbert, his sister
(1) Sir Leonard Thomas Worsley Holmes of Newport, I.W., Bart.
(2) George Halbert of the town of Wicklow, Gent.
[Ex HBY/639P]
[TNA UK Renewal of lease for lives  JER/HBY/73/3  25 January 1813]



Kindly acknowledge the above to research by Cara.

Bill

[BillW]

GEORGE HALPIN Born WICKLOW, Wicklow. Served in [Not Known]. Discharged aged 22. Covering date gives year of discharge.  Miscellaneous: Abe
Date: 1800
[Source: The Catalogue of The National Archives
Royal Hospital Chelsea: Soldiers Service Documents WO 97/1184/103]


This date and age aligns with my George Halpin senior.  Is this my Eureka moment?


1779 is his calculated year of birth derived from his age being given as 75 when he died in July 1854, suggesting he would be 21 in 1800, the year he is reported to have commenced work with the Dublin Ports.

If so, it gives his place of birth as Wicklow and 1 or 2 years after Willam Halpin, paymaster King's German Legion, being born also in Wicklow.

So, who was their father in Wicklow (or their separate fathers)?  Despite all the scattered evidence of Cotter, Eaton and Halbert families in and around Wicklow Town, I have yet to see evidence of a Halpin family there pre-1800.

Bill.